Danny McBride's G.I. JOE Casting Rumors Heat Up With Chris Pratt and Walton Goggins in the Mix
Not long after reports surfaced claiming that Bradley Cooper was being looked at as a possible replacement for Chris Hemsworth in Danny McBride's upcoming G.I. Joe movie, a new rumor suggests Paramount may be weighing a few more high-profile options. And if the latest scoop is accurate, two more familiar Marvel stars have entered the conversation.
According to industry scooper Daniel Richtman, Chris Pratt and Walton Goggins are also being considered for the lead role alongside Cooper.
Pratt is, of course, best known to Marvel fans as Peter Quill, aka Star-Lord, appearing alongside both Hemsworth and Cooper throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Beyond Marvel, he's remained one of Hollywood's biggest box office draws with projects including The Tomorrow War, The Terminal List, and as the voice of Mario in The Super Mario Bros. movies.
Goggins has also spent time in the MCU, playing Sonny Burch in Ant-Man and the Wasp before returning to voice an alternate version of the character in the Disney+ animated series What If...?
Out of the rumored contenders, Goggins may have one advantage. He already has a long working relationship with McBride.
Fans know him as the unforgettable Baby Billy Freeman in HBO's The Righteous Gemstones, the series McBride created and stars in. Before that, Goggins played Lee Russell in McBride's HBO comedy Vice Principals, which ran from 2016 through 2017. If McBride is looking for someone he already knows he works well with, Goggins certainly fits the bill.
While the casting speculation continues, another recent report revealed that McBride isn't just writing the movie. He's also expected to direct it, marking a major step into blockbuster filmmaking.
Even though McBride is famous for comedies like Eastbound & Down, Vice Principals, and The Righteous Gemstones, fans shouldn't expect G.I. Joe to follow that same path. McBride has already explained that the film won't be a comedy and said there would be “kind of suspense and action.”
As for the rumored actors, each brings something different to the table. Cooper has built an impressive career both in front of and behind the camera, earning Academy Award nominations for Silver Linings Playbook, American Hustle, American Sniper, A Star Is Born, and Maestro.
Pratt has proven he can carry major action franchises while balancing humor and charisma. Goggins, meanwhile, continues to be one of the most consistently entertaining performers working today thanks to standout roles in Justified, The Righteous Gemstones, Fallout, The White Lotus, and The Hateful Eight.
At this point, none of these casting rumors have been confirmed, so it's worth treating them as exactly that. Still, it's an interesting shortlist, and it's easy to imagine any one of these actors bringing a very different flavor to McBride's vision for G.I. Joe.
The movie currently doesn't have a release date, but it'll be interesting to see who ultimately gets the call.